Edward j



E. J. POST.

DARNING HOOK.

APPLICATION men APR. 3, 1920.

1,401,728. Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

a: e Ltd an EDVJ'ARD 5. POST, OF PHILADELPHIA, ?EI TI\TSYLVANIA.

DARNING-HOOK.

Application filed April 3,

To all "whom "2'25 may concern:

Be it known that l, Enwilm J. Posr, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Darning-Hooks; and 1 do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description or theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappcrtains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of ref-- erencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in devicesfor use in mending stockings and other knitted tabrics and it has torits object the provision of a simple and inexpensive tool of thischaracter, designed especially for use in taking up broken threadswhich, if neglected result in raveling; thus producing an unsightlyappearance and rendering valueless closely knitted fabrics such as areemployed in the manufacture of stockings.

It is well known that a broken thread, it neglected will Very soonresult in an unsightly blemish, due to the raveling oi the brokenthread.

Attempts to remedy this defect must be taken immediately, or as soon aspossible after the dis overy of the broken thread and resort hascommonly been had to the use of a crochet needle or other instrumenthaving a hooked end adapted to take up the broken end of the thread. Theuse of such instruments, for this purpose has been found to be for manyreasons objectionable and frequently impossible in cases in which thethreads of the garment are exceedingly fine and are woven closely.

It has been found that the successful use of any of the hooked tools incommon use, requires great skill and care upon the part of the operator,due to the difficulty in locating the broken thread and preventing thetaking up upon the hook, with the broken end of a single thread, otherthreads in the fabric.

An essential object of the present invention consists in the providingof a tool, so constructed as to permit the operator, even though notspecially skilled, to at on e and easily select and grasp the singlebroken thread and withdraw its end to the surface of the fabric, withoutgrasping with it other Specification of Letters Fatent.

1920. Serial No. 371,127.

threads or otherwise injuring or disfiguring the fabric.

To this end and to such others as the invention may pertain, the sameconsists in the peculiar construction, combination and ii angements ofparts; all as will be herein- ,l'tcr described, shown in theaccompanying drawings and then specifically defined 1n he appendedclaims.

The invention is clearly shown in the ac companying drawings, which,with the numorals of reference marked thereon, form a part of thisspecification, and in which drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view ofa device constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a like view, with the parts separated but in their relativepositions.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken upon the line 3, 3 of Fig.1.

Reference now being had to the details of the invention by numerals, i,designates the handle portion of the tool, which in the present instanceI have shown as straight, and cylindrical in cross section, having anenlargement 2 at a point adjacent to its smaller end, which is providedwith a hook 3, s milar in form to the hook shown in crohet needles ofcommon construction.

The up, er face of the handle 1, is cut away, as shown at 4 and this cutaway portion is provided with a dove-tailed longitudinal recess 5 toreceive the dovetailed base of the movable slide 6, which is providedwith a rearwardly extending resilient arm 7, having an enlargement 8, atits end, which is adapted to engage in a shallow recess in the handle 1,and the opposite end of the movable slide 6 is provided with a flat andpointed extension 9, which, when the slide is moved toward the hookedend of the portion 1, is designed to cover the open hook 3. Theenlargement 8 is also utilized as a finger-engaging member for movingthe slide to open and close the hook.

From the foregoing description, the use of the tool will be at onceevident. When it is desired to grasp the broken end of a thread, it isengaged by the hook 3, and by moving the sliding member "forward, thethread will be retained within he hook, by the portion 9 of the slide,which will also preclude the engagement of the hook with other threadsof the fabric while the broken thread within the hook may be withdrawn.

Having thus described my invention, what E QltFiIll to be new and desireto seo ure by Letters Patent, is-

A Crocheting needle having a body portion and e hook member, said bodyportion being provided with a longitudinal dovetail slot which extendsto and terminetes in the said hook portion and with EL depression, akeeper slidably fitted Within the dovetail slot and having integraltherewith a rearwerdly extending resilient member adapted to engage thedepression in the body portion for retaining the keeper in its normalposition, and atorwardly 6X:- tending pointed member adapted to open andclose the hook member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

EDWARD J. POST.

